UK AND TERRITORIES WRAP-UP 2024 SUMMIT WITH NEW COMMITMENTS

By Staff Writer

“That’s a wrap! Overseas Territories leaders and Ministers have made clear that we are stronger together, as we tackle illicit finance, challenges of migration, barriers to biodiversity, and more.”

That declaration by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the end of the 2025 Joint Ministerial Council(JMC) summed up the relationship between the UK and its Overseas Territories.

Phrased in diplomatic language, the communique at the end of the three-day annual London session (November 24th to 24th) cut through elements of friction between the UK and some OTs over several issues, including constitutional reform.

“NOTHING ABOUT YOU WITHOUT YOU”

Underlined  by a principle of “nothing about you without you”, the UK pledged to a “Partnership with the Overseas Territories based on mutual respect and inclusion, applying to all UK Government departments - rights come with responsibilities, including the responsibility to uphold our common values.”

Emphasising good governance and ensuring proper democratic accountability and regulation, the document also speaks of “defending the Overseas Territories’ security, autonomy and rights, including the right of self-determination”.

A NEW ‘PARTNERSHIP COMPACT’

Another key outcome from this year’s JMC is the joint commitment to develop what have been referred to as “Partnership Compacts between the UK and any Territory that wishes to”.  A new construct, these Partnership Compacts are intended to provide tailored, practical frameworks for advancing shared priorities and to signal a renewed commitment to partnership.

Also noted is the development of a UK Government Charter on Engagement with the Overseas Territories, “which seeks to reinvigorate and strengthen how the UK Government engages with the Territories.”

‘PARBO’ LAW

While territory-specific issues are addressed, much of the attention falls on the UK’s insistence on the OTs to enact the law on public access to registers of beneficial ownership of companies(PARBO), which the UK is threatening to impose by decree.

It refers to steps already taken by individual territories to enact the relevant legislation locally. The Cayman Islands, St Helena, the Falkland Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands are listed as having processes in place and working to a timeline for completion.

Regarding Cayman specifically: “We welcome the introduction of legitimate interest access to existing registers of beneficial ownership by the Cayman Islands in February 2025…and note Cayman Islands’ June 2025 commitment to further improve user access.” Cayman is also listed among the OTs “to hold further technical discussions starting in the coming weeks to ensure that we deliver the maximum possible degree of access and transparency whilst protecting the right to privacy in line with respective constitutions.”

HEALTH, PENSIONS AND EDUCATION

A recurring theme at the annual JMC in recent years has been access to the UK’s National Health Service(NHS), which has been restricted to a quota. OT governments have been lobbying to get that removed or expanded. However, it’s clear from the communique that not much, if any, headway has been made in that regard except for emergency care, jobs and training.

On the other hand, there is encouraging movement on full access to UK pensions by all OT/British citizens retiring in the islands. The UK has now committed to expanding that to islands not previously included, although a timeline has not been indicated.

A request for financial support for OT students in the UK did not make any traction with the British government, only saying. “We note the Territories’ continued request that Overseas Territories students attending university in the UK are eligible for maintenance loans with the understanding that policy for maintenance loans outside England is a devolved matter.”

ACTION ON ENVIRONMENT

A welcome development was recorded on protecting the territories’ unique biodiversity system - the UK’s largest - along with climate change issues and disaster mitigation. Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty announced a new Climate Finance Support Programme.

Alongside the publication of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy, he said, “This marks the beginning of a new journey towards improvements in policy, legislation, support, collaboration and engagement, for the benefit of our flora and fauna, habitats and ecosystems.”

TRADE AND AID

For territories receiving UK aid such as Montserrat in the Caribbean, the UK said it “remains committed to meeting the reasonable needs of Territories where financial self-sufficiency is not possible. The Overseas Territories continue to have the first call on the UK’s aid budget to facilitate sustainable economic growth and development.”

With trade between the OTs and the UK valued at around US$22 billion annually, including tariff-free access for exporting to the UK, the British government said it is committed to expanding this relationship through deeper engagement and economic cooperation.

DEFENCE AND SECURITY

The UK also offers the reassurance of “defending the Overseas Territories’ security, autonomy and rights, including the right of self-determination”. This is seen as particularly timely for the Caribbean OTs at a time of increased military tension in the region led by the US Trump administration in a bellicose stand-off with Venezuela. It also extends to the wider global unease, especially with the UK’s support for Ukraine, in its ongoing war with Russia. Cayman and other Overseas Territories are acknowledged for their role in imposing UK sanctions on Russia.

“We recognise that the Overseas Territories have frozen assets worth well over US$11bn,” the communique noted.